Vertical blind control mechanism



Dec. 9, 1958 R. J. CAYTON 3,

' VERTICAL BLIND CONTROL MECHANISM Filed Dec. 18, 1957 INVEN TOR. 1905527 d. GQWTON BY 621M? United States Patent Ofiice 2,863,562 Patented Dec. 9, 1958 VERTICAL BLIND CONTROL MECHANISM Robert I. Cayton, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application December 18, 1957, Serial N 0. 703,57 9

3 Claims. (Cl. 160-173) This invention relates to an improved traversing vertical blind.

My copending application, entitled Vertical Venetian Blind, filed March 6, 1956, Serial No. 569,802, discloses a traversing vertical blind wherein a plurality of slat supporting trucks are slidably mounted upon a hexagonal rod. Rotation of said rod rotates the slats and the trucks are interconnected so that a cord controls traversing thereof.

It is an object of this invention to provide improved traversing control means which will insure proper spacing of the slats with respect to one another.

It is a further object of this invention to provide means for retarding traversing of the end slat to insure proper positioning of the slats when closed.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide such means which will also permit said end slat to be traversed when desired to facilitate cleaning and the like.

Other objects and advantages will be readily apparent from the following description:

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation with parts thereof broken away, of a traversing blind embodying this invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary side elevation similar to Figure 1 with the slats in the traversed position.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the friction washer.

As more fully described in my copending application, each slat is formed of cloth and is supported by hook 212 at its upper extremity. Hook 12 passes through truck 14 and has a gear thereon which meshes with a second gear within the truck slidably mounted upon hexagonal rod 16. Rod 16 is rotated by chain 18 and pulley 20 as is more completely described in my copending application, to rotate trucks 14 and hence slats 10.

Each truck 14 is connected to the adjacent trucks by a strip 21. A cord 22 passes over pulley 24 through a suitable eye 26 in each truck and is secured to the truck furthest from pulley 24. The cord is reeved through a similar pulley on the other side of the blind so that the slats may be moved along rod 16 in either direction, as more fully described in my copending application.

During movement of the slats 10 to the left in Figure 1 the outermost slat which would be adjacent the side of a window covered by said blind creeps to the left hence exposes the window frame and admits light therethrough. To prevent such creepage a friction washer 28 is provided. This washer is preferably formed of nylon or similar material and has a hexagonal bore 30 therethrough, permitting rod 16 to pass therethrough but sufficiently small to snugly fit on said rod. Thus when the slats are traversed the frictional resistance to movement of washer 28 on rod 16 will prevent movement of the outermost slat. When however it is desired to clean the window and frame behind the blind, washer 28 may be manually moved along rod 16 either by grasping same or the truck 14 of the outermost slat 10.

While what hereinbefore has been described as the preferred embodiment of this invention is is readily apparent that alterations and modifications can be resorted to Without departing from the scope of this invention and such alterations and modifications are intended to be within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a vertical blind of the type described the combination of: a non-circular rod, a truck slidably mounted upon said rod, a slat suspended from said truck, means within said truck rotating said slat upon rotation of said rod and a friction washer upon said rod slidable thereon bearing against said truck and resisting movement thereof along said rod.

2. In a vertical blind of the type described the combination of: a non-circular rod, a truck slidably mounted upon said rod, 21 slat suspended from said truck, means within said truck rotating said slat upon rotation of said rod and a washer having a non-circular bore therethrough snugly fitting said rod and bearing against said truck resisting movement thereof along said rod.

3. In a vertical blind of the type described the combination of: a non-circular rod, a truck slidably mounted upon said rod, a slat suspended from said truck, means within said truck rotating said slat upon rotation of said rod and a nylon washer having a non-circular bore therethrough snugly fitting said rod and bearing against said truck resisting movement thereof along said rod.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Peck Ian. 13, 1953 

